Category Archives: football

THE ROAD TO CEDAR FALLS: 1999

Nov. 28, 201212:34 p.m.

 

Butler’s Rudi Johnson shakes off a number of Dixie College defenders on his way to a 66-yard touchdown run – Johnson ran for 7 TDs and 373 yards to lead the Grizzlies to a second straight national title. (BO RADER/EAGLE FILE PHOTO)

Monday: 1981

Tuesday: 1998

Today: 1999

Thursday: 2003

Friday: 2007

Saturday: 2008

Sunday: Gameday

Behind the title: This was Butler’s second straight national title and, once again, they were headed west to face the No. 1 team in the country, this time, Dixie (Utah) in the Dixie Rotary Bowl at St. George, Utah – where an estimated 8,000 fans packed into a 6,000-seat stadium to watch the game. Butler’s trump card? One of the greatest junior-college football players of all time in running back Rudi Johnson, who led the nation in rushing in ’99 with an amazing 2,224 yards and 32 touchdowns. Johnson would come absolutely uncorked against Dixie, going for 373 yards and 7 touchdowns against the second-best rushing defense in the country. In an interesting aside, Butler sophomore offensive lineman Howard Duncan won his second straight title with the Grizzlies … then would go on to win another one the next year with Oklahoma. After this game, coach James Shibest left Butler to take a job as an assistant at Arkansas. His replacement? The young offensive coordinator on Butler’s two title teams – Troy Morrell. 

Game story with notes and box score after the jump: 

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By Tony Adame | Filed under Butler, football | Comments Off

THE ROAD TO CEDAR FALLS: 1998

Nov. 27, 20129:50 a.m.

 

BUTLER COACH JAMES SHIBEST HUGS DANIEL COBB AFTER A VICTORY OVER GARDEN CITY (1998 EAGLE FILE PHOTO)

Behind the title: Yesterday, we looked back at Butler’s 1981 NJCAA title team. Today, it’s Butler’s 1998 NJCAA title team – the one that shocked the nation with an upset of No. 1 Ricks (now BYU-Idaho) in front of almost 12,000 at the Real Dairy Bowl. How foreign was the national stage for the Grizzlies at this point? Most of  the players had to purchase special, flat-bottomed shoes to play on the turf at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho. Tailback Rudi Johnson was a freshman on this team and rushed for almost 700 yards in the three playoff games (all 8 teams used to make league playoffs) and the Grizzlies rallied from second-half deficits six times for victories.  It was the first NJCAA title for the Jayhawk since Coffeyville won in 1990 and ended a string of Jayhawk teams coming up short when playing for the title – Garden City twice and Coffeyville once … which leads us to our next point: There were no official title games at this point. Butler received 106 votes in the final NJCAA poll – just one more than Jones County (Miss.). 

TOMORROW: 1999

Game story and box score from the title game after the jump.  

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By Tony Adame | Filed under Butler, football | Comments Off

THE ROAD TO CEDAR FALLS: 1981

Nov. 26, 20126:19 p.m.

 

UNI-DOME

I’ll be in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Dec. 2 for the Graphic Edge Bowl between No. 2 Butler (11-0) and No. 1 Iowa Western (11-0) as they play for the NJCAA title at the UNI-Dome.

Starting today, Sunflower Slate will be putting out posts on Butler’s six NJCAA title teams as they go for a seventh. We’ve got a week’s worth of coverage planned leading up to the game in The Eagle and at Kansas.com.

We start with the original – a 1981 team that I wrote a story about two years ago as Butler was getting ready to play Navarro for the NJCAA title at the Citizens Bank Bowl in Pittsburg, a game Butler lost in pretty dramatic fashion and the last time they played for the NJCAA title. Here’s a blog post that had some more stuff about that 1981 team that beat NEO 21-14 in the Rodeo Bowl in Arkansas City.

Finally, there’s this feature about Butler assistant Steve Braet that I wrote and ran in Sunday’s edition. He’s been an assistant on all SIX of Butler’s title teams and seems to have come as close to perfecting the art of coaching d-line as any coach I’ve been around at any level.

Tomorrow – 1998.

TA

By Tony Adame | Filed under Butler, football | Comments Off

TITLE HUNT: Jayhawk, MIAA, KCAC, Heart of America

Oct. 16, 201210:31 p.m.

Here’s a look at our four leagues and how the races for titles are playing out – obviously the Jayhawk is a little unique because of a postseason tournament. It’s far enough into the season that I feel like we can safely say what teams are still in the hunt, what teams are hoping for a miracle and what teams have no hope – relying more on math than emotion, hopefully.

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By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Heart of America, Jayhawk, KCAC, MIAA | Comments Off

Looking at Saturday’s small-college games

Sept. 28, 20128:02 p.m.

MIAA

Lincoln (0-4 overall, 0-4 MIAA) at Emporia State (4-0, 4-0), 1 p.m. – Emporia State quarterback Tyler Eckenrode leads the MIAA with 1,320 passing yards and 11 touchdowns and is seventh in the nation in total offense at 367.25 yards per game.

The Hornets haven’t started 5-0 since 2003, which was also the last year they won the MIAA. Emporia State’s best start was 8-0 in 1988, something they have a shot at matching if they can beat Lincoln as games against Southwest Baptist, Lindenwood and Truman await.

Fort Hays State (0-4, 0-4) at Truman (3-1, 2-1), 1 p.m. — An unthinkable loss for the Tigers a few years ago is now an upset win to avoid going 0-5. Things couldn’t be worse for second-year coach Chris Brown’s squad.

Southwest Baptist (1-3, 1-3) at No. 20 Washburn (3-1, 3-1), 1 p.m. — Ichabods should bounce back from last week’s loss to Central Oklahoma.

Missouri Southern (3-1, 3-1) at Central Missouri (3-1, 3-1), 1:30 p.m.

Nebraska-Kearney (0-4, 0-4) at Lindenwood (3-1, 3-1), 1:30 p.m.

Northeastern State (0-4, 0-4) at No. 11 Northwest Missouri (3-1, 2-1), 2;30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma (1-3, 1-3) at No. 7 Missouri Western (4-0, 3-0), 6 p.m.

KCAC

Friends (3-1, 2-0 KCAC) at No. 23 Kansas Wesleyan (3-1, 3-0), 6 p.m. – The Falcons have gone back and forth between quarterbacks this season in sophomore Derek Racette, a dual-threat with 193 rushing yards and 190 passing yards, and senior Jayme Bristow, who has passed for 305 yards. A win by Friends would likely propel them into the NAIA Top 25 and possible sole possession of first place in the KCAC, depending on the outcome of Ottawa’s game at Tabor.

Avila (0-4) at Bethany (2-2, 1-2), 2 p.m. — Into the heart of the season and Junior Allen’s absence is felt.

Saint Mary (0-4, 0-3) at Sterling (0-4, 0-3), 6 p.m. — Saint Mary best 0-4 NAIA team in the country. Seriously. They should pick up their first win right here.

Ottawa (1-2, 1-1) at Tabor (3-1, 2-0), 7 p.m. — Tabor playing inspired football right now, should be an emotional setting for this one in Hillsboro.

Southwestern (2-2, 2-1) at Haskell (0-4), 7 p.m.

McPherson (2-2, 2-1) at Bethel (0-3, 0-2), 7 p.m.

Heart of America

No. 13 Baker (4-1, 3-1 HOA) at No. 11 Midamerica Nazarene (2-1, 2-1), 2 p.m. – MidAmerica Nazarene quarterback Sean Ransburg is coming off a career game against Avila, where he threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 105 yards and one touchdown.

Baker defensive backs Emmerson Clarke and Preston Schenck are tied for the league lead with three interceptions each.

Central Methodist (2-2, 2-2) at Lindenwood-Belleville (2-2), 1 pm.

Culver-Stockton (0-4, 0-4) at No. 4 Missouri Valley (4-0. 3-0), 1:30 p.m.

No. 6 Benedictine (4-0, 2-0) at Evangel (2-0, 1-1), 2 p.m.

Avila (0-4, 0-3) at Bethany (2-2), 2 p.m.

Graceland (2-2, 1-1) at Peru State (2-2, 1-2), 2 p.m.

Jayhawk

Air Force Prep (0-4) at No. 3 Butler (5-0, 4-0 Jayhawk), 7 p.m. – Based on the NJCAA’s new, computerized ranking system, this is a game that could hurt Butler, win or lose. Because Air Force Prep is not affiliated with the NJCAA, this game won’t count in the rankings and the Grizzlies dropped one spot in the rankings two weeks ago coming off a 77-point win.

Fort Scott (2-3, 2-2) at Garden City (3-1, 2-1), 7 p.m. — Every win is a big step for the Broncbusters, and this is another big test.

No. 13 Hutchinson (2-1, 2-0) at Highland (1-3, 1-2), 1 p.m. — Highland, in my opinion, is the most improved team in the Jayhawk.

Independence (2-3, 0-3) at Dodge City (0-5, 0-4), 7 p.m. — Somebody has to win.

By Tony Adame | Filed under football, KCAC, MIAA, NAIA | Comments Off

Looking at Saturday’s small-college football games

Sept. 21, 20121:29 p.m.

Saturday’s small-college football games (Sept. 22)

MIAA

Emporia State (3-0, 3-0 MIAA) at Northeastern State (0-3, 0-3), 6 p.m. – The Hornets lead the league in scoring, passing and total offense and quarterback Tyler Eckenrode averages 363 passing yards and has 10 touchdowns. A win here could be what Emporia State needs to break into the NCAA Division II Top 25, where it has been receiving votes the last two weeks. .

No. 9 Washburn (3-0, 3-0) at Central Oklahoma (0-3, 0-3), 2:37 p.m. — Check out that game time it cracks me up.

No. 12 Northwest Missouri (2-1, 1-1) at Nebraska-Kearney (0-3, 0-3), 4 p.m.

Southwest Baptist (0-3, 0-3) at Missouri Southern (3-0, 3-0), 6 p.m.

Lincoln (0-3, 0-3) at No. 1 Pittsburg State (3-0, 3-0), 7 p.m. — Easy win for Gorillas here before a brutal, three-game stretch against Central Missouri, NW Missouri and a possible Top 10 battle against Missouri Western in Pittsburg on Oct. 20

No. 7 Missouri Western (3-0, 2-0) at Fort Hays State (0-3, 0-3), 7 p.m. — Things aren’t getting any easier for the Tigers.

KCAC

No. 24 Kansas Wesleyan (2-1, 2-0) at Bethany (2-1, 1-1), 7 p.m. – This is the 100th meeting for these teams in perhaps the best rivalry in the KCAC. The two teams played for the first time on Nov. 13, 1893, a game the Coyotes won 38-0. Bethany won 15 straight games between 1987-2000. Kansas Wesleyan is led by 6-foot-2, 240-pound junior linebacker Brady Harwell, who averages 10.3 tackles.

Friends (2-1, 1-0) at McPherson (2-1, 1-0), 1 p.m. — Huge game as far as the KCAC standings go – Friends is coming off a big win over Southern Nazarene last week. Friends senior defensive end Dexter Davis is an early candidate for national defensive player of the year honors – he’s already got 9 sacks in three games.

Tabor (2-1, 1-0) at Saint Mary (0-3, 0-2), 1:30 p.m.

Sterling (0-3, 0-2) at Southwestern (1-2, 1-1), 6 p.m.

Heart of America

No. 5 Missouri Valley ( 3-0, 2-0) at No. 9 Baker (4-0, 3-0), 6 p.m. – USC transfer Dillon Baxter doesn’t have a 100-yard rushing game, but Baxter (274 yards) and Baker freshman Jermaine Broomfield (249 yards) are third and fourth in the HOA in rushing.

No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene (1-1, 1-1) at Avila (0-3, 0-2), noon

Peru State (2-1, 1-1) at No. 6 Benedictine (3-0, 1-0) 1 p.m.

Jayhawk

No. 3 Butler (4-0, 3-0) at Highland (1-2, 1-1), 1 p.m. – Butler beat Independence by 77 points last Saturday and dropped one spot in the NJCAA Top 20. The Grizzlies need to keep winning big to keep traction in the polls, but they face a Highland defense that is second in the Jayhawk in scoring defense at 24.6 points.

Dodge City (0-4, 0-3) at Fort Scott (1-3, 1-2), 1 p.m.

Garden City (2-1) at Air Force Prep (0-3), 2 p.m.

Independence (0-3, 0-2) at Coffeyville (2-2, 1-1), 7 p.m.

By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Jayhawk, KCAC, MIAA | Comments Off

Looking at Saturday’s small-college football games

Sept. 14, 20125:59 p.m.

MIAA

No. 1 Pittsburg State (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) at Southwest Baptist (0-2, 0-2), 1 p.m. – The Gorillas have already racked up five interceptions and Kansas transfer Keeston Terry, a junior safety, is providing dividends with 13 tackles and one interception. On offense, Pitt State is averaging 193 yards on the ground and have split carries between seniors Briceton Wilson and Jason Spradling.

Fort Hays State (0-2, 0-2) at No. 13 Northwest Missouri (1-1, 1-0), 1 p.m. – The Tigers are in the middle of a brutal stretch against three straight ranked opponents. Fort Hays lost to No. 9 Washburn last Saturday and now have to make the six-hour drive to Maryville, Mo., with the Bearcats fresh off a loss to Central Missouri.

Other games

Central Oklahoma (0-2, 0-2) at Emporia State (2-0, 2-0), 1 p.m. — I’m not kidding – win here and the Hornets could be 7-0 before you know it. One of the easiest schedules in the MIAA.

Missouri Southern (2-0, 2-0) at Lincoln (0-2, 0-2), 2 p.m.

Northeastern State (0-2, 0-2) at No. 9 Washburn (2-0, 2-0), 2 p.m. — Ichabods have transitioned into the post-Dane Simoneau era well.

Nebraska-Kearney (0-2, 0-2) at No. 8 Missouri Western (2-0, 1-0), 6 p.m.

Central Missouri (1-1, 1-1) at Lindenwood (2-0, 2-0), 6 p.m.

Northwestern Oklahoma (0-2) at Truman (2-0), 7 p.m.

KCAC

Southwestern (1-1, 1-0 KCAC) at McPherson (1-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. – McPherson quarterback Jake Snodgrass, a Derby product, is averaging 261 passing yards passing and 52 rushing yards. A win by the Bulldogs could propel them into the NAIA Top 25 headed into a Sept. 22 matchup with Friends in McPherson.

Other games

Saint Mary (0-2, 0-1) at Ottawa (0-2, 0-1), 6 p.m. — Not thinking the Braves are going to start KCAC play 0-2.

Kansas Wesleyan (1-1, 1-0) at Sterling (0-2, 0-1), 6 p.m. – What has happened to the Warriors the last couple of years?

Bethany (1-1, 0-1) atBethel  (0-2, 0-1), 6 p.m. –

Haskell (0-2) at Tabor (1-1), 7 p.m.

Southern Nazarene (0-2) at Friends (1-1), 7 p.m.

Jayhawk Conference

No. 2 Butler (3-0, 2-0) at Independence (2-1, 0-1), 1 p.m. – Butler sophomore middle linebacker Blake Bean, from Kapaun Mount Carmel, is third in the Jayhawk with 12 tackles per game.

Other games

Coffeyville (1-2, 0-1) at Fort Scott (1-2, 1-1), 1 p.m. — This isn’t a gimme for the Red Ravens. The Greyhounds are 8-12 in the two-plus seasons since going 11-1 and playing for the national title in 2009.

Dodge City (0-3, 0-2) at No. 14 Hutchinson (2-1, 2-0), 7 p.m. — Blue Dragons need to start playing defense.

By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Jayhawk, KCAC, MIAA | Comments Off

Saturday’s small-college football scores (9/8)

Sept. 8, 20124:08 p.m.

GOT THEM ALL –TA

JAYHAWK

No. 14 Hutchinson 63, No. 19 Garden City 49 FINAL

Coffeyville 29, Air Force Prep 23 FINAL 

No. 2 Butler 60, Fort Scott 14 FINAL

Independence 27, Arkansas Baptist 20 FINAL

Highland 32, Dodge City 10 FINAL

MIAA

No. 1 Pittsburg State 34, C. Oklahoma 19 FINAL

No. 15 Washburn 45, Fort Hays State 20 FINAL

Central Missouri 31, No. 3 NW Missouri 21 FINAL WOW

Emporia State 58, Nebraska-Kearney 35 FINAL, HORNETS IMPROVE TO 2-0

KCAC

Friends 36, Saint Mary 14 FINAL

Southwestern 27, Bethel 13 FINAL

Tabor 12, Sterling 7 FINAL

Kansas Wesleyan 31, No. 11 Ottawa 28 FINAL

McPherson 14, No. 24 Bethany 0 FINAL

 

By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Jayhawk, KCAC, MIAA | Comments Off

Looking at Saturday’s small-college football games

Sept. 7, 20123:00 p.m.

GCCC QUARTERBACK NICK MARSHALL

JAYHAWK

No. 14 Hutchinson (1-1, 1-0) at No. 19 Garden City (2-0, 1-0), 7 p.m. – This is high stakes for both teams early in the season – if Garden City wins they’ve got a clear path to an undefeated showdown with Butler in El Dorado on October 6. A loss for Hutchinson puts the Blue Dragons out of the national-title hunt.
Garden City quarterback Nick Marshall is averaging 198 yards passing and 113 rushing yards per game. He and running back Jamal Tyler (246 rushing yards, four touchdowns) should test a Hutchinson defense that just gave up 617 yards in a 54-34 loss to No. 12 Navarro.

Coffeyville (0-2, 0-1) at Air Force Prep (0-2), 2 p.m. – An 0-3 start would be disastrous for first-year coach Aaron Flores.

Fort Scott (1-1, 1-0) at No. 2 Butler (2-0, 1-0), 7 p.m. – Butler has absolutely steamrolled its first two opponents and a big reason has been sophomore QB Billy Cosh, who transferred from James Madison. Don’t expect much different here.

Other games

Arkansas Baptist (0-2) at Independence (0-2, 0-1), 1 p.m.

Highland (0-2, 0-1) at Dodge City (0-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.

MIAA

Central Oklahoma (0-1, 0-1) at No. 1 Pittsburg State(1-0, 1-0), 6 p.m. – Pittsburg State junior wide receiver/return specialist John Brown showed why he is one of the most dynamic players in the nation in the Gorillas’ 41-20 win at Northeastern State last Saturday. Brown, 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds, racked up 270 all-purpose yards, including nine catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 15 Washburn (1-0, 0-0) at Fort Hays State (0-1, 0-1), 7 p.m. – Chris Brown’s second season as Fort Hays State’s coach got off to a rocky start last week with a loss to Emporia State, but the Tigers get a big opportunity to get back on track against a nationally-ranked opponent.

Other games

No. 3 Northwest Missouri (1-0, 0-0) at Central Missouri (0-1, 0-1), 1:30 p.m.

Emporia State (1-0, 1-0) at Nebraska-Kearney (0-1, 0-1), 2 p.m.

Southwest Baptist (0-1, 0-1) at Lindenwood (1-0, 1-0), 6 p.m.

Northeastern State (0-1, 0-1) at Missouri Southern (1-0, 1-0), 6 p.m.

William Jewell (0-1) at No. 14 Missouri Western (1-0, 1-0), 6 p.m.

Lincoln (0-1, 0-1) at Truman (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.

KCAC

Saint Mary (0-1, 0-0) at Friends (0-1, 0-0), 7 p.m. – Evangel’s Andrew Brimhall picked apart the Friends secondary for 336 yards and three touchdowns in the Falcons’ 27-14 loss last Saturday at Springfield, Mo. That’s not a good sign with Saint Mary’s pass-happy offense and All-KCAC quarterback Mike Keese coming to town.

Other games

Bethel (0-1, 0-0) at Southwestern (0-1, 0-0), 6 p.m.

Sterling (0-1, 0-0) at Tabor (0-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.

No. 11 Ottawa (0-1, 0-0) at Kansas Wesleyan (0-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.

McPherson (0-1, 0-0) at No. 24 Bethany (1-0, 0-0), 7 p.m.


By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Jayhawk, KCAC, MIAA | Comments Off

Saturday’s small-college football scores

Sept. 1, 20124:20 p.m.

I will update with scores as they come in. – TA

Jayhawk Conference

No. 2 Butler 28, No. 5 Blinn 10 FINAL Great win.

No. 12 Navarro 54, No. 10 Hutchinson 34 FINAL Bad loss.

Northeastern Oklahoma 36, Highland 12 FINAL

Garden City 24, Cisco 19 FINAL

No. 7 Trinity Valley 35, No. 17 Coffeyville 7 FINAL

Kilgore 26, Dodge City 15 FINAL

No. 16 Tyler 35, Fort Scott 7 FINAL

Independence 42, SE Texas Prep 21 FINAL

 

KCAC

Evangel 27, Friends 14 FINAL

Missouri Valley 27, McPherson 13 FINAL

No. 24 Bethany 13, SW Assemblies of God 12 FINAL Only win for KCAC in season’s first week. Brutal.

No. 14 William Penn 54, Bethel 0 FINAL

No. 22 Cumberland 31, Kansas Wesleyan 10 FINAL

No. 11 Benedictine 59, Sterling 6 FINAL

Nebraska Wesleyan 25, Saint Mary 20 FINAL

 

 

By Tony Adame | Filed under football, Jayhawk, KCAC | Comments Off